By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
With three of the five Barton County Commissioners headed out the door after the upcoming general election in November, it could be considered a "lame duck" body. But Commissioner Kirby Krier has been working on a resolution regarding the involvement of sitting commissioners on area boards and committees. Wednesday morning, the commission was finally able to pass the resolution 5-0.
"They can discuss and do anything they want with these boards, and discuss with commissioners, they just have to recuse themselves during a vote for that particular items when it comes to finances," Krier said.
Per state statute, all commissioners must report to the county clerk which boards they serve on. Once elected, they must also report any boards they join.
Krier's original proposal, if passed, would have barred sitting county commissioners from serving on area boards for organizations that receive county dollars. In study sessions, the commission agreed on a compromise so sitting members could serve on boards and discuss financial decisions, but not vote on any financial matters pertaining to the county.
"The resolution we passed today was to eliminate any perception of conflict of interest," he said. "By recusing themselves from voting, that shows there's no conflict."
Wording on Resolution 2022-23 states, "Commissioners shall be prohibited from making motions and or voting on agenda items dealing with the financial concerns of the agencies, organizations, non-profits and all other entities for which they serve as Governing Board or Committee members."
The resolution further states, "Nothing herein shall prevent the Commissioners from making a motion or voting on the annual budget wherein the financing levels of some agencies, organizations, non-profits and all other entities funded or partially funded by Barton County is expressed."